Rating: 
Summary: Wooden Ships and Iron Men. Crackles with authenticity!
Review: This movie is the most authentic presentation of the age of "wooden ships and iron men" ever to grace the silver screen. There is simply no doubt about that. The viewer is literally transported and immersed into the brutal and harsh service of the Royal Navy during the era of the Napoleonic Wars. Russell Crowe perfectly portrays Captain Jack Aubrey ("lucky Jack") of the Patrick O'Brian novels. The acting, sets, everything, simply crackle with authenticity. The attention to detail in this film is astounding.The storyline is not bad either, although in my opinion it moves a bit slowly. But the relatively slow pace of the storyline is for a purpose, to draw the viewer into the subtle nuances that the film is trying to convey--that this was a hard age, the Royal Navy of the times was a brutal and merciless service which brooked no disobedience and yet was not lacking in humanity. Russell Crowe portrays a Captain Aubrey who is both harsh and humane in an age of hardship and adventure. I deprived this film of the fifth star because I did feel that the storyline could have been made to move at a brisker pace without sacrificing the nuances that the film accomplishes so well. Others may disagree, and I can understand that. It may be that with repeated viewings I too will decide that this is a five-star film. In any case, it is an excellent film, featuring excellent performances, authenticity, and an interesting storyline.
Rating: 
Summary: A big fat wash up
Review: I was looking forward to Russell Crowes performance but this movie did him no justice. What should have tipped me off was the assanine box cover, however I was duped by the clever reviews mentioned thereon. Do not be mislead, this movie is as bad as the art work on the cover. Boring to the point of tears and fatigue I was literally exhausted after watching this movie and had to receive shock treatments to revive my will to live. Do yourselves a favor and stick to "The Gladiator".
Rating: 
Summary: Russell's Okay but the movie leaves much to be desired.
Review: Even with the acting by Russell Crowe this movie seems to go nowhere. It putters along with the climax coming and going with you waiting for something more. By the time the movie is over you're wondering "what just happened." For Crowe this certainly isn't a feather in his cap and they used his name to market an otherwise ho-hum flick. Maybe next time. Stick with Gladiator.
Rating:
Summary: "Master"ful Movie Entertainment
Review: After reading many of the more than 250 reviews, this movie seems to be one of those people either love or hate. Count me as one of the former. As even many detractors have mentioned, it is a quite realistic look at the Royal Navy of the early 1800's, as well as being beautifully filmed (it earned the Oscar it received for cinematography). The lead actors did a more than credible job, as did many of the ship's crew. The point made about the middle of the movie being a bit slow is taken, but to me it was still interesting (I guess I have a longer attention span than 10 minutes). I deduct 1 star for the lack of extras of any kind on the 1 disc edition, but I will be purchasing the 2 disc edition nonetheless.
Rating: 
Summary: Master and Commander - a Masterpiece!
Review: I'm pleased to read so many comments of people who were similarly impacted by this movie. I rented the movie and watched it 6 times before returning it. Each time I was more impressed with the depth of this movie. Watching it the third time with subtitles helped greatly to understand some of the period slang and sailing terminology. Russell Crowe is simply everything a ship captain - or any great leader - should be. His presence captures the screen. You can't get enough of him. One of my favorite moments in the film is a meeting of the ship's officers - the second in command, the Sailing Master, the Surgeon, and the Captain - weighing the damage incurred having almost been sunk in the first encounter with the French frigate, Acheron, which it is their mission to pursue and either sink or take for prize, but it turns out the hunter becomes the hunted. The Captain's officers are all pleading with Captain Aubrey (Crowe) to sail the ship back to port for repairs to which Aubrey flatly replies, "we're not going to port. We can refit at sea." In total dismay, the Sailing Master tells him that the French ship "is much heavier - she's out of our class. And by the time we're repaired and back in pursuit she'll almost be to Cape Horn." With a wry grin Aubrey replies, "Well then....we haven't a moment to lose." It's such an inspiring, thrilling, and realistic journey the viewer almost feels a part of the crew. Master and Commander is one of only six films I call a masterpiece. I'm buying it and I'll never get tired of watching it.
Rating:
Summary: A well-done visual feast
Review: Gorgeous from beginning to end, this film lusciously illustrates a cross-section of O'Brian's novels. I'm almost done reading the Aubrey-Maturin series and feel the movie perfectly captures the spirit, intelligence, and wit of the books. Another Peter Weir visual feast. Hope this does well enough at the box office to justify a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT STORYTELLING
Review: The importance of Master And Commander is that it shares with Crowe's earlier movie Gladiator something rare in contemporary filmmaking. Both films actually tell us a story about people and worlds strange to us. Too often in "historical" films although the dress and settings are in the past the characters display attitudes, beliefs and conflicts that reflect more modern concerns from our time. Too often what we get are contemporary "morality plays" acted out in costume dramas in either a past age or in outer space. These have their value but often fail as storytelling. What we have in Master And Commander is a tale of a world (Napoleonic seafaring warfare) in which the characters hold to rules that are foreign to us and whom we do not immediately understand. Crowe as Aubrey drives this story according to the imperatives of command. To succeed in a mission against a superior opponent he is horribly mismatched, Crowe must summon courage, determination, and cleverness to avoid defeat several times and then finally triumph. The ship's surgeon serves as Aubrey's best friend and sometime conscience as he questions Aubrey several times whether he is pursuing his quest against the French warship out of a sense of loyalty and duty or because he doesn't want his pride to be hurt. The truth is (as in all of us) Aubrey's motives are mixed. While he does act out of a need to do his duty as England herself is threatened with invasion, Aubrey also does not want to be bested by a French captain. Still, while his motives may be tainted, Aubrey is not dissuaded from the fight. Yet any suspicions that the ship's surgeon himself was counseling out of weakness and lack of courage are dispelled in the events to follow. That Aubrey would succeed the viewer never doubts. But this is no simple tale of triumph. The harshness of sea life and the absolute ruthless nature of the need to maintain order under primitive conditions are not slighted. The inhumane sacrifice of good men to save the ship. The merciless whippings of lawbreakers to maintain discipline. And the bloody butchery of sea battle. All these are depicted so that the viewer makes no mistake. Finally, the heavy loss of life of seaman and officer alike in contact with the enemy. It is a certain kind of courage to do something difficult. It takes a different kind of courage to meet a challenge when there is a very real possibility and likelihood one will lose. Would we have thought it worth the sacrifice and pain to capture just one ship from all the oceans of the world? Could we have driven others under our responsibility to suffer so much of the sake of any goal? Maybe not. But Master And Commander shows us men who did and a world we have largely forgotten.
Rating:
Summary: Master and Commander... the aura of history abounds
Review: I agree with the other 5 star reviews of this film here on Amazon.com that this film IS highly entertaining... for those seeking action and ALSO for those who love a good story with lots of character study... and in those areas, this film will not disappoint... but I am also have a great passion for the recreation of history, in spirit if not in literal terms... and this film is right "on target". It is a work of art consistant with history from the first frame (sensitively designed title text), to the the finale. I was fortunate to be able to visit the HMS SURPRISE (actually built in 1970 as a replica of a 1750s British warship called the ROSE) used in this film. It is currently docked in San Diego harbour and open to the public. I saw it prior purchasing the DVD. I stood on the actual deck and examined the recreated planking, rigging and details on board, and even up close, it is like stepping back in history... it looks so carefully outfitted. Below deck is a display of the film's costumes, musical instruments and props used in the film behind glass showcased walls, and they are remarkable. The costumes are authentic down to the delicate hand sewn details, the brass with perfect patina, and the china and silver table service looks museum quality... most of it recreated just for this film. It was no surprise that with such attention to detail, the film has such an authentic look on screen, but what ultimately won my praise for this film was the respect for the "correctness" in manners, gesture and story the actors showed here. Whether it was minutely accurate is not important, but with so many films now on DVD that simply do not care about the historic look or beauty of period film or costume ("Shanghai Knights" and "First Knight" immediately come to mind) it was great to see a work on film that displayed the texture and look of past in such authentic way. The music, much of it classical, is not all of the period, yet it still felt "right" for the film and adds to the sweeping vistas and first rate cinematography... which is remarkable in this filim. I loved the story, I also thought the characters were wonderfully developed. Crowe is marvelous... and his character showed the intensity, power, determination, loyalty, that a captain would have had... and yet also the sensitive nature and a bit of humor that would have kept his crews loyalty through horrendous times. His portrayal is on a par with his performance in "L.A. Confidential" and "Gladiator". There were many reasons to love this film... overall it is a real adventure. Bravo!!
Rating: 
Summary: O'Brian would gag!
Review: I have been an avid reader of the Aubrey-Maturin series.O'Brian was a purist and developed intense, believable characters. This film, unfortunately disappoints. The inane mis-casting of Russell Crowe, with his innapropriate Aussie drawl, is the biggest flaw. He in now way portrays the original character, either in stature or speech.The same can be said for Maturin, who is the "raison d'etre" for most of the missions undertaken by H.M.S. Surprise. If one wishes to see the fullness of this crime, read the series.I was soooo dismayed to see this in the theaters. The entire emphasis seems to be on the visual aspects of this work, which standing on their own are creditable, although lacking in many ways to show the immensity of the seafarer's world in Aubrey's time. I can only pray, that like "Mutiny on The Bounty", this great epoch will be revisited by artists with clearer intellect and vision. Sorry, but I can not recommend this juvenile epic in any regard.
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good movie
Review: Master And Commander wasn't too shabby. Although I am no Naval Historian, I have seen other peroid pieces (Horatio Hornblower Series, etc...), and they were better in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, the movie was entertaining, but it lacked more action. The final battle scene could have used a little more work also. I understand that close quarter battle needs to look confining, but from a viewer standpoint, it would have been more enjoyable if you could have seen more of the fight. Not quite the epic masterpiece that a lot of people say that it is, but it was entertaining.
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